Meghalaya Forest (Removal of Timber) (Regulation) Act, 1981
No: 12 Dated: Jun, 02 1981
THE MEGHALAYA FOREST (REMOVAL OF TIMBER) (REGULATION) ACT, 1981
Act, 12 of 1981
An Act to regulate and control removal of timber outside the State for the preservation of forests and to prevent their indiscriminate destruction and for matters connected therewith and incidental thereto. Be it enacted by the Legislature of Meghalaya in the Thirty-second Year of the Republic of India as follows:-
1. Short title, extent and commencement:- (1) This Act may be called the Meghalaya Forest (Removal of Timber) (Regulation) Act, 1981.
(2) It shall extend to the whole State of Meghalaya.
(3) It shall come into force at once.
2. Definitions:- In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires;
(a) “competent authority” means such authority as the State Government may, by notification appoint for the purpose of exercising the powers and functions of a competent authority under this act and the rules made thereunder for the whole or any part of the State;
(b) “prescribed” means prescribed by Rules made under this Act;
(c) “State” means the State of Meghalaya;
(d) “State Government” means the Government of Meghalaya;
(e) “Schedule” means a Schedule to this Act;
(f) “Trading Depot” means any place or premises used for keeping, storing or stocking timber for the purpose of trade or otherwise of the timber outside the State.
(2) Word and expressions used, but defined in this Act and defined in the Meghalaya Forest Regulation 7 of 1891 as applied in Meghalaya) shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in that Regulation.
3. Removal of timber outside the State:- (1) No person shall remove or cause to be removed for the purpose of trade or otherwise, any timber outside the State, and no Trading Depot shall be set up or established at any place without a license from the competent authority:
Provided that no such license shall be granted by the competent authority:-
(a) in respect of timber the size of which is below the minimum size prescribed for such timber; and
(b) in respect of timber of such categories or species of trees or groups thereof specified in the Schedule to his Act.
(2) The State Government may, be notification, add, modify, amend or cancel any item in the Schedule to this Act.
(3) Every notification issued under the foregoing sub-section shall have effect on the date of its first publication in the official Gazette and shall be laid as soon as may be after its publication before the House of the Legislative Assembly of the State.